Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...
A/N: Hey, sorry it's been a while, everyone. Life has been going on around me and I've been going with it. : ) Let's just get to the story, ya? I'll be updating other stories soon enough- please, just give me a little time.
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Chapter 7: The Verdict Reached
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After Kagome's little 'wise-crack', the women laughed til the fell from their seats while the men snorted or barked with mirth clearly present. Inuyasha, seeing the way his employees and friends reacted, brushed it off with a quick chuckle and pulled Kagome to his side, forcing her to sit on the arm of his seat as he shoved his bowl into her hands. Kagome's face smoothed over with a kind of gentle acceptance and she did as she was bid.
After serving Inuyasha, Asano called her over to fill his cup with the wine stored in one of the rooms she had cleaned out earlier. Albeit the sound of Ramen and vintage Red Wine soured her mouth, she complied to his wishes with a pleasent smile. Then Nikki called Kagome to her side and told her to pull a chair out of another storage room and sit next to her. She did.
"So, Kagome, is it?"
"Yes."
"I have a funny feeling I won't feel like a fool later if I say this now, so- 'Welcome to the White Hounds,' Kagome," Nikki whispered, just loud enough for Inoue and Akira to hear. Akira frowned and nodded while Inoue reached across the table and patted Kagome's hand at her disbelieving look. "But, don't hold me to it. Some of the men here think Inu should be completely ruthless."
"I've heard as much," muttered Kagome, eyes downcast. She looked up with a smile. "Thank you, Nikki, Akira... Inoue... It does mean something to know you three wouldn't mind me being around."
Akira sniffed haughtily. "Yeah, but if you do stay- hands off of Inu. He's had it rough and he needs a professional right now."
"Like you?" Nikki said wryly. "I doubt he even counts you as a woman, let alone someone he'd bed. He likes clean girls, anyway."
"And Kikyou was clean?" Inoue snorted. "She was fucking Naraku- that's slime right there, plain and simple. I'd sooner rape Kagome here than sleep with him- drugged." At Kagome's low, barely audible 'eep', he grinned and waved the fearful tone away. "Don't worry about that happening. The likelihood of that is like that of Miroku winning over some fairly intelligent female's heart after they learn about his 'habit'."
"In other words," Nikki began, "it ain't happening."
Nikki, Akira, and Inoue shared a laugh before continuing with their dinner. Soon, Kagome was called by others around the table to either fulfill their wishes or sit down to chat in order for them to better grasp the secrets she was hidding. Was she like Kikyou- a faked innocent no one really ever trusted? Was she all on the surface? Was she trustworthy? Was she deep and complicated or simple? Did she tolerate a slap on the ass?
One man learned better very soon as he hit the table face-first, his bowl shattering on the back of his head as Kagome paled and backed away, her eyes locking on Inuyasha's where he sat at his seat. Everything went silent. She'd slipped again.
Nikki howled in amusement seconds later at the appauled/terrified (and for different reasons) look on Kagome's face. "Now that's an innocent right there!"
"Good God, was I ever like that?" A young girl squeeked. "I don't ever remember not liking attention like that."
"You just craved a human touch," a boy next to her mumbled, his hand tracing up her arm. "Being an orphan doesn't exactly make you the most loved of creatures while you grow up."
"That's true, Ami," Akira said sadly. "I was the same as you. I remember Nikki being like Kagome, but I never was."
"You had parents, though," Ami argued.
"That didn't mean they loved me."
Kagome's gaze slipped from Inuyasha's to look at Ami, then Akira. Was that how it was here? You came here for the sense of a family around you: love, home, security, care, belonging? Was that why Yuri really left his family behind? Kagome never remembered him speaking of them and they had always ignored him...
But he had Sango and her.
Did that not matter?
Yuri kept his eyes on her, she noted when she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. He seemed to understand what she was thinking because he soon turned away with a guilty slump to his shoulders.
It was odd. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want to know these people, she didn't want to have to play maid and serve these emotionally-deprived-in-their-childhood Japanese citizens who were as unpatriotic as they come... Could she even call them citizens when they were against the government?... Yet, she suddenly had a feeling, right in the pit of her stomach, that she was going to enjoy living a life of servitude if it meant learning about these people and their lives prior to that of crime.
She felt bad... She judged much too hard...
Then she remembered- no matter their past, they were still holding her life in their hands and were thinking about killing her. Murder, crime, was never ever acceptible nor was it justifiable.
She shook herself clear of her thoughts as a hand grasped her shoulder and shoved, making her stumble toward Inuyasha. It seemed he had called her and she hadn't heard... She reeled back, remembering her little slip-up. His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Come here," he ordered harshly, standing from his seat and stepping beside it. "Sit down and we'll begin." Kagome held her breath, slowly making her way to the chair and sitting as he commanded. "This girl you see before you, one Kagome Higurashi, was abducted last night in a mix up to be blamed on myself when trying to capture Kikyou Ryuosen. Kikyou Ryuosen, as of yesterday afternoon, was marked for espionage of the highest degree. A spy for our arch rivals- the Black Velvet Spiders.
"Kagome is a run-away. She has a mother, grandfather, aunt, and brother at home- a shrine. Her father was murdered in a bombing by the Shadow Wolves when they were merged with the Black Velvet Spiders before Kouga rounded up the renegade men. After stealing the precious Jio Swan Sesshomaru ordered found and taken years ago, I captured her believing she was the spy Kikyou. She now sits before you all waiting to be judged and sentenced as all prisoners before her.
"From what I have seen and heard, she would make a valuable asset to us and she has agreed to cooperate as long as she has a chance to speak with her family- no matter how long it takes before she can. She has also agreed..." He traveled off, looking down to Kagome for a brief second to catch his breath that had been zapped from him at the thought of her earlier words. "She has also agreed to, if need be, have a micro-tracking device, the same apperatus used on Musou, implanted in order to gain our confidence that she will remain faithful to us.
"She wishes only to see her family she... ran away from," he said, snorting at the irony.
Nikki stood so fast her chair pinned her to the table and caused her to fall, pushing the chair away as she hit the ground. She shot up again, brushing herself down as she glared at her boss, both in embarrasment and anger. "You shouldn't brush off sayings so easily, Boss," she hissed. "I believe in all of them, especially that you don't know what you have untill you lose it... You should know that better than all of us..."
Kagome watched Inuyasha turn an unbecoming shade of red. "Who the fuck do you think you're speaking to!?"
"... I..." Kagome muttered. "I ran away... because..."
"Kagome?" Yuri whispered. "What...?"
"Because..."
Everyone calmed down when the dry-eyed girl raised her gaze to Inuyasha. "Because I needed time alone... I needed space... I needed something- anything- to happen! My life's been the same since I started school! 'Do this, Kagome. Do that. Sweep the grounds, do the dishes, be home before seven, smile, have fun, be happy.' I have no room for me to fit 'FUN' into my life- why do you think I was called 'Sleepless Beauty'? Did you think I stayed up just to stay up?" Kagome yelled, standing to be more level with him. "NO! I was taking care of my ill grandfather or my heart-broken mother or my nightmare-ridden baby brother! And now with Aunt Nina living with us, I have to clean up after another person- I wake up; cook breakfast; go to work; act all 'a-okay' for Sango; go home on my lunch break to cook when Nina can do it herself for everyone since mamma is still deing inside and grandpa is on his deathbed; go back to work; lie to my only friend that everything's fine at home; then go home with a guilty consceince only to learn I forgot something vital and Nina didn't think about it so my grandfather is going to die sooner when I had the chance to stop it all together! How can I be happy with that? How can I smile? But I do, I still smile! For them!"
She had forgotten the other people around her, only seeing the man standing before her with a shocked look. His mouth moved, but nothing was said. Kagome noted she hadn't cried- she was too angry at Inuyasha for his little speech where he rattled off everything about her past that he knew, then laughed about something he didn't.
"My grandfather sits in front of a television screen, moaning in pain while my mother sits beside him, hollow as hollow gets. Aunt Nina takes her anger out on my brother every chance she has- his arms are covered in bruises- all you can see is black and blue and purple... And the police won't listen to me about it- they won't believe a seventeen-years-old girl that an Aunt would be so heartless. A mother or father might, but surely not an Aunt... How ironic, yeah? The people that should care the most should be the ones to hurt you?
"... And grandpa's fading- and mom, too..." Kagome whispered, her eyes no longer seeing the man before her. "... Maybe my leaving will wake mama up... Maybe Nina will contact the police because she's too lazy to cook and they'll finally see I was telling the truth... Maybe I won't be there to see grandpa die..."
She looked away, her gaze falling to the floor. Everything was out in the open now, just hanging in the tense air. She sighed and laughed a short, humorless laugh. "I'm just a selfish teenage girl." Her thoughts stilled, nothing more to say or think coming to mind.
"Boss..." All heads turned to the small voice of a young man... a ten year old boy standing near the kitchen's doorway. Shippo's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Kagome. "... Mama..."
Kagome blinked, backtracked, and understood. Shippo's mother was the only one who fought against Inuyasha... she had just exploded in his face... 'Shippo must be hurting so bad right now,' Kagome thought, forgetting her earlier pains' return. She didn't think as she moved to him and knelt down, a reassuring hand caressing his cheek as she donned a watery smile.
"I'm not your mother, Shippo. Please, don't call me that." It hurt to say that, but if for any reason she was to be killed... "I'll always be your friend, but I cannot replace your mother- no one can, no one will."
The kid sniffled and looked at the ground.
"Please," Kagome said, without looking at the others in the room. "Hurry and make your decision... Come on, Master Shippo. Let's fix up the electronics' storage area, yeah?"
He nodded and walked away, head still bowed. Kagome followed silently, casting a blank glance back at the man called Boss, then Miroku, next Nikki. Nikki winked and drooped her shoulder a bit for her strap to slide down her arm... Ah, a woman's wiles. Inside, Kagome shook her head and smirked...
And couldn't help but think, 'since when did I stop caring about cheating at such a game?
'Uh... When my life was on the line...?'
Inuyasha frowned as he reclaimed his seat, composing himself for the oncoming debate over the innocent's life. Nikki, of course, was first to speak, a twinkle in her eye as she exposed a bit more of her chest. Inuyasha caught onto the game, but refused to comment.
"I like her. She's a little spunky and definitely has value. Ah- and real family drama and heart-break... I say we keep her."
"You would, Nikki," Drake sneered. "Anyone to get into a fight with you is good enough. I don't trust her- nor your judge on character."
"Well, if you were looking in her eyes when she spoke to you and not at her chest, you might see the honesty that lays within her," she shot back. "Plus, look at what she's going through at home..."
"It could be a lie!" Tsurai shouted, rising to his feet. Many others followed suit.
"... And I think she's as pure as the Shrine Grounds she lives on."
"Pure grounds!" Viktor gawfed. "Ha! They're as pure as the blackest heart here if what that bitch says is indeed true! Abusive aunt, uncaring mother, ailing grandfather."
"All families go through problems!" Akira screeched, sounding terrified at what he spoke. "No land can change that- it's a universal fact and it always will be!"
"I agree-"
"You would, you fucking fairie!"
"Ah- now that's uncalled for!" Yuri bellowed. "You're just as screwed up in the head as he is, Wakazu! What, with your 'little girl' obsession you have! Hell, I'm surprised you don't like Kagome for her fucking innocence- and don't you dare try anything with her or I'll strung up by your balls in front of the nearest police station before you can squeel like the fucking sick pig you are!"
"Such strong words for a boy not allowed to cast a vote in the matter, don't you think, Yuri?" Ami asked with a soft tone. "I second him, though, Wakazu. You touch her and die."
"Since when was she going to live in order for me to!?" he roared.
"She lives."
The shouts quieted at the sound of Kaede's voice. Tsurai wouldn't have it though.
"Hag, since when do you care? You're the most heartless bitch there is!"
"Heartless I may be, but dense I am not," she replied calmly. "She is more valueable to us than most of you are together. Besides Miroku, Inuyasha, Nikki, Shippou and Inoue who have been the only ones to actually keep us all together and all in good heart- or as good as they can be- Kagome would be the best of us here. I mean this in many a way. She has heart where and when many of us don't. She cares for all, no matter how horrid- did she ever speak a word of her Aunt being worthless? Being wrong?"
"She said-"
"She said she could have done something and choose not to. She said she did something, and it has hurt her. She never said she was a bad person."
"She meant it!" Viktor yelled.
"Did she?" Kaede implored. "Are you certain that's how she feels?"
"How could she not?" Rakshasa spat, pushing his burgendy bangs from his eyes.
"Because she's Kagome," Yuri answered, Inuyasha whispering to himself those exact words at the same moment. Inuyasha started... He understood that. "She's Kagome- Kagome's Kagome, and that's all there is to it."
"That doesn't make any sense, brat!" Drake growled.
"That's only because you don't know her."
"I have to say," Miroku spoke up, "that, even though I've only spoken with her shortly, I understand that perfectly well. Kagome's Kagome, and that's all there is to it, no matter how you say it. That's that. Now, either she lives or she dies."
"Inuyasha- don't go back on your word, you worthless bastard of a leader," Rakshasa hissed. "You know the rules as all here do."
"... Where does it say she has to die?" Rakshasa fell silent. "If you can tell me word for word the rule that implies a wrongly captured victim must be put to death, I will abide by it with no hesitation- and I'll do it any way you wish, Rakshasa. Drown her, burn her, cut her slowly into pieces, pull out her beating heart... Tell me it, and you can have your way. Yet, if you can't find it, and you are that hell-bent on having that innocent's blood spilled, you can do it yourself if just one person backs you up."
"I second him. I don't trust her," Tsurai spoke.
"Niether do I," Drake declared.
"Nor do I, Boss," Viktor barked.
"Come on, let me take her," Wakazu called out, licking his lips.
"You sick fu-"
"Yuri," Inuyasha called, silencing the man who had taken to a grey-green color, his hand moving to his mouth as he became ill with thoughts. "Is there nothing that will persaude you to let her live?"
Viktor blinked. "You'll let Rakshasa go through with it?"
"I said I would- but he obviously hasn't found that one rule in his mind, has he?"
A murmur swept through the air and died just as quickly as it had sprung to life. Kaede had stood.
"Boss... I have a confession to make."
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The water gently fell from the tap into the sink, running over her shaking hands. Her face was pale, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. Many things ran through her mind, but nothing stayed...
Just like those she loved- no one stayed.
First, her mother, then her father. After them, it was her husband...
There went her life, down the drain like the water that touched her.
"Mama?"
Now her daughter was missing. Her daughter was gone.
What did she have left?
"Mama...?" The timid voice called out again.
She looked over her shoulder at the small boy standing in the door way. "Souta?" Yes, she had a son...
"... Is Aunt Nina gone?"
How could she forget about her sister? Of course, she had her father-in-law, too...
"Yes... She went to visit your uncle, dear."
Tears flooded his eyes, his lips trembling. "And Kagome?"
She could only nod and watch as her son, the one that looked so much like his father had, ran foreward and wrapped his arms around her waist in a tight hug, sobbing. She shivered at the familiar feelings of instinct kicking in, telling her to comfort the weeping child. Hesitantly, she dried her hands and dropped to her knees, enveloping him with loving arms and cooing soft words.
"Sh, dear... It's going to be alright. Kagome's a big girl, she'll be back. She'll be fine."
He nodded into her shoulder, whispering incoherent words of acceptance. "Is Aunt Nina coming back?"
"No. She's going to go live with our brother..."
Moments of silence passed between them. It changed them. Souta wasn't afraid anymore, knowing he could go to his mother- knowing his mother was back. She wasn't alone anymore in her own world of despair. She had her son to care for, after all.
She pulled away slowly, looking into his drying eyes, running her hands up and down his arms to reassure herself he was there with her. When he winced at her touch, she stopped and frowned. What was that- the tender flesh she rubbed against?
A bruise...?
"Souta... What happened?"
The boy's lip quivered and he shyed away, eyes downcast.
"Souta..."
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"Well, old hag, speak already!" Tsurai growled.
Kaede took a deep breath, and said, "her ailing grandfather... is my brother."
"She's-"
"Seito?" Toutousai called, perking up. "That boy always was trouble for your mother and I."
Nikki blinked. "Wow... He is the genuine Father Time!"
Miroku snickered, along with various others. Kaede grumbled about 'rude youngsters,' but couldn't keep the smile off her face. Inuyasha sighed.
'Great, just what I need... Tsurai's going to turn this into a fucking 'family' feud...'
Drake stood up slowly, for the first time looking somber. "I say she stays."
Tsurai snarled. "Fucking traitor!"
The man shook his head and turned to leave the room. "I won't have someone witness their own family member's death... I won't contribute to that kind of pain... Even if I'm an 'American prick,' as Nikki calls it..." He sighed. "It isn't right... it isn't humane... It's disgusting!"
Rakshasa laughed dryly. "Well... I know one White Hound who's about to run home with his tail between his legs. You that squeemish?"
"No, I just know what it feels like," Drake spat over his shoulder. "Why do you think I left America? To forget the pain... to forget the past."
"And that's what Kagome needs now," Viktor whispered, silencing Tsurai and Rakshasa when they opened their mouths to curse Drake again. "I'm not happy about it, not one bit... But, I agree. She should stay."
Inuyasha's heart sped, catching his attention. Why was he so glad? One person... just one more person to say "she stays," or, "she lives," and the whole thing would be over... His mistake would be fixed.
Asano chuckled abruptly, startling Inuyasha out of his thoughts. "Shippo really adores that gal, don' 'e?"
Inuyasha smirked and nodded. "Yeah, he does. It would be wonderful to see that boy occuppied instead of being right under my feet."
"She can live, if it means that brat will stay out of my way," Tsurai stated, a little too fast for Inuyasha's comfort. Something about that almost sounded... calculative? No... It sounded just like a problem had been solved... and one hell of a problem at that.
Inuyasha eyed his employee closely, barely catching the slight shift of eyes when Rakshasa rubbed the bridge of his nose. An eyebrow arched itself as he spoke. "That leaves you alone again, Rakshasa. What do you have to say?"
The man cast one last glance around the room, locked gazes with Tsurai as he pulled his earlobe, and shrugged. "I'm out numbered it seems."
Inuyasha sneered at him. He didn't imagine it. Those two were plotting something. "Yuri... Take Kagome and Shippo to my room. Wait with them there. We have a few things to discuss. Your trial will start again three days from now." Yuri bowed and left, his eyes blank. "Miroku, Kaede, Toutousai... Nikki, Inoue, Akira, follow me. Asano, find Drake and send him to my room. Everyone else, you're dismissed for the night. Next meeting will be Monday. I expect to see all of you there."
With that said, the boss rose from his seat and walked away, silently thanking the heavens for the turn around during the meeting. Beside the fact that his conscience could now rest at ease, he knew his next stratigical move in ridding the White Hounds, once and for all, of rebelious rats.
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When Yuri walked through the door into the storage room Kagome was helping Shippo arrange, only one thought presented itself to her.
It wasn't 'I'm going to die.'
It wasn't 'I'm going to live!'
It wasn't 'Yuri! My childhood friend!'
It was 'It would break Sango's heart to see Yuri with those steel like eyes... those eyes so similar to Inuyasha's when he kicked me... When he held that gun... When he stared at me during dinner, telling me plainly it would bother him none to see me dead.'
She stood up and wiped the dirt off her hands and onto her pants, telling Shippo to stop what he was doing and stand by her side as she waited for her friend to speak. When he just stared at her, seemingly lost in his thoughts, she cleared her throat loudly and sighed.
"Yuri, what happened?" Shippo's hand tangled into the fabric of her shirt. "Am I...?"
"You're fine," he whispered, looking away. "Inuyasha wants us to wait in his room. You, me, and Shippo."
"There's no way for us to get out of that room..." Shippo whispered. "Only Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Kaede know how to open the door from the inside. Oh... and Miroku..." The boy shook his head. "But, that was by accident, it seems..."
Kagome smiled warmly at the chattering child. Now that her life wasn't in danger, Shippo was talkitive and happy. Still, she was worried. Yuri didn't seem too pleased with something.
"What's the matter?" she asked as they left the storage room to find the bedroom. "You seem... closed off."
"I have a bad feeling about all of this," Yuri explained quietly. "Sure, you're safe. But, it wasn't easy to... The things people said... Kagome, even with all the struggling Inuyasha and Kaede did, the win was just too easy! Tsurai and Rakshasa gave in too easily..."
"You think they're planning to overthrow Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking at his profile when he paused. "... You think they're going to kill him."
"No matter how absurd it sounds... He's like a father to me." Yuri smiled at her, shaking his head. "Only seven years older than me, and he still feels like my father... or, what my father should have been to me. He's taught me everything I need to know, he's saved my hide time and time again..."
'So, that is it. The White Hounds...'
"I see..." She grinned and clapped her hands together. "Then, I'll help you however I can!"
"Thanks..."
"-and Kaede, she's a mean old woman! She's always like, 'Shippo, do this,' and, 'Shippo, do that,' and, 'Shippo-'"
"Shippo, shut up."
The boy pouted and stuck his tongue out at Yuri. "Just because you're Kagome's friend, doesn't mean I like you!"
"Well, just because Kagome likes you, doesn't mean I'm your friend."
"Well, just because Kagome likes me, doesn't mean I'm going to listen to you!"
"Well, just becuase Kagome's my friend, doesn't mean I'm going to-"
"Boys!" Kagome yelled, silencing them both as she held up a closed fist. "Get along and I won't hurt you."
They gulped, shut their mouths, and trudged along down the hall.
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Kaede, Akira, Nikki, Miroku, Inoue, and Toutousai gathered around the desk in Inuyasha's office, staring at their leader as he gazed out of the large window, watching the lights in the city blink on or off. His eyes shifted occassionally to the dogs playing in the yard, or to the maze he loved to occupy so often. There were so many things... Too many things would change now with the addition of Kagome to the gang...
Of course, she was only a maid for the time being, but he felt he had to rush the procedures... He wanted her gone, out of his hands, just in case Rakshasa and Tsurai decided to attack her. He didn't want another person to watch over and protect. The gods only knew how difficult it was to keep up with Yuri and Shippo...
Sure, Yuri could get himself out of trouble if he needed to, but the boy seemed to find more ways to get into trouble than even Shippo could.
Rakshasa and Tsurai were a problem. And a big problem at that. Of all the White Hound members, those two were the most dangerous when working with a partner. Neither could so much as kill a fly alone, but together... They could take out a few dozen SWAT teams bare handed and still have the breath to laugh.
"Boss," Miroku called out, impatiently shifting his feet. "If its all right with you, I'd appreciate getting this over with soon. I'm supposed to be visiting my grandfather tomorrow."
Inuyasha nodded and moved to his seat behind the large desk. The others took their respective seats and the meeting began.
"When Tsurai and Rakshasa gave in, did any of you see anything strange? Did you notice anything suspicious?"
Akira gasped, raising a hand to her mouth. "Tsurai, he was sitting next to me-"
"Yes, that's why I asked for you and Inoue to join us..."
"He was really fidgetty when he spoke about Shippo... He kept moving around in his seat, like he was anxious about something."
"And Rakshasa kept hissing under his breath about 'the pesky brat' and something about Yuri."
Kaede nodded. "Yes, I watched them a while. They seem to be plotting against you, boss."
"I guessed as much."
"You know," Miroku began, sitting up a bit straighter as he spoke, "now that you meantion it, I saw Rakshasa scratching his nose with his ring finger... don't you usually use your index finger- plus, he used his right hand, and he's left handed."
"And Tsurai seemed interested with his ear... It reminded me of someone with a new piercing..."
Kaede cleared her throat loudly. "I... have an idea. But, there will be many who object, I believe."
"Why's that?" Inuyasha inquired, resting his hands on the desk top.
"It would get Kagome deeply invovled in the White Hounds."
"Are you suggesting we use her as a spy?" Miroku blinked, and barely held back a bark of laughter. "Come now, Kaede! They'd be suspicious the second she spoke to them."
Inoue and Nikki glanced at each other before rising from there seats. "No, she'll be perfect."
"They'd expect her to want to break out of here," Nikki amended. "They'll need her as a distraction, too. Probably to lose the eyes on them. To get Shippo out from under their feet, and Inuyasha off their backs. After all, Inuyasha'll be too involved with, as they will instruct her to be, 'the woman who will try to seduce him'."
Inuyasha flinched, hissing inwardly at the thought. Kagome, in other words, would be playing the part of Kikyou...
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A/N: o.O oh... Alright, that was a little different from my outline... Good thing I like it, I suppose. :-)
Anyway, please review and let me know how I'm doing. Bits and pieces of my stories are becoming forced, and that is really rubbing my nerves the wrong way. Sorry it took so long to get posted. I've had this version complete for a while now, but I still keep rereading it thinking there's something I'm leaving out, but I think it's good enough for now and you all deserve a little present! Merry Christmas (Hannakka, Kwanzaa, and so on...)
Ja ne!